Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Correlation of the characteristics of EEG potentials with the indices of attention in 12-to 13-year-old children

  • Published:
Neurophysiology Aims and scope

Abstract

We studied correlations of the spectral characteristics of EEG with the indices characterizing the level of attention in 60 children (12 to 13 years old). Indices of voluntary attention were measured using a complex of psychological tests, including a Bourdon’s test (correcture test), a two-stimulus go/no-go test, a computer test (a modification of the Bourdon’s test for characterization of concentration and stability of attention), and Schulte’s tables. Children manifesting a good working ability (corresponding to the results of the go/no-go test and correcture test) showed relatively high values of the ratio of spectral powers (SPs) of the beta 1 and theta rhythms. These ratios were greater in the right hemisphere; this is probably indicative of a greater contribution of neuronal mechanisms of this hemisphere to providing watchfulness and stability of attention. Children demonstrating increased impulsivity (according to the results of the go/no-go test) were characterized by low modal frequencies of the alpha rhythm in the occipital brain regions, while children with relatively high values of this frequency in various cerebral regions demonstrated high indices of attentiveness and rates of the cognitive processes. Children performing the test task with especially high accuracy were characterized by high ratios of SPs of the low-frequency beta rhythm vs theta rhythm (mostly in the central and parietal regions of both hemispheres). The approach we have applied can be used for measuring the objective indices characterizing the state of the attention sphere in children.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. E. V. Kasatikova, N. P. Larionov, and I. P. Bryazgunov, “A study of the spreading, indices of attention, and risk factors related to the attention-deficit/hyperactivity syndrome in schoolchildren,” Pediatriya, 1, No. 5, 73–75 (1999).

    Google Scholar 

  2. E. D. Belousova and M. Yu. Nikanorovaà, “An attention-deficit/hyperactivity syndrome,” Ross. Vestn. Perinatol. Pediat., 45, No. 3, 39–42 (2000).

    Google Scholar 

  3. A. S. Gevins, G. M. Zeitlin, and J. C. Doyle, “Electroencephalogram correlates of higher cortical functions,” Science, 203, No. 2, 665–667 (1979).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. A. S. Gevins, G. M. Zeitlin, C. D. Yinglin, and J. C. Doyle, “EEG patterns during ‘cognitive’ task. I. Methodology and analysis of complex behaviors,” Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol., 47, No. 6, 693–703 (1979).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. F. Schober, R. Schellenberg, and W. Dimpfel, “Reflection of mental exercise in the dynamic quantitative topographical EEG,” Pharmacoelectroencephalography, 31, No. 2, 98–112 (1995).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. T. Harmony, T. Fernandez, J. Silva, and J. Bernal, “EEG delta activity: an indicator of attention to internal processing during performance of mental tasks,” Int. J. Psychophysiol., 24, Nos. 1/2, 161–171 (1996).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. W. Klimesch, H. Schimke, and G. Pfurtscheller, “Alpha frequency, cognitive load and memory performance,” Brain Tomography, 5, No. 3, 1–11 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  8. I. M. Rusalov, Biological Bases of Personality-Related Mental Differences [in Russian], Nauka, Moscow (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  9. G. F. Wilson and F. Fisher, “Cognitive task classification based upon topographic EEG data,” Biol. Psychol., 40, Nos. 1/2, 239–250 (1995).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. A. R. Clarke, R. J. Barry, R. McCarthy, et al., “EEG activity in girls with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder,” Clin. Neurophysiol., 114, 319–328 (2003).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. R. J. Barry, A. R. Clarke, and S. J. Johnstone, “A review of electrophysiology in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: I. Qualitative and quantitative electroencephalography,” Clin. Neurophysiol., 114, 171–183 (2003).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. R. J. Barry, S. J. Johnstone, and A. R. Clarke, “A review of electrophysiology in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: II. Event-related potentials,” Clin. Neurophysiol., 114, 184–198 (2003).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. D. F. Lyubar, “Biological-feedback control, attention deficit and hyperactivity,” in: Biological Feedback Control-3: Theory and Practice [in Russian], M. B. Shtart and A. B. Skok (eds.), Nauka, Novosibirsk (1998), pp. 142–162.

    Google Scholar 

  14. S. J. Johnstone, R. J. Barry, and J. W. Anderson, “Topographic distribution and developmental time-course of event-related potentials in two subtypes of attention hyperactivity disorder,” Int. J. Psychophysiol., 42, No. 1, 73–94 (2001).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. V. B. Pavlenko, N. V. Lutshyuk, and M. V. Borisova, “Correlation of the characteristics of evoked EEG potentials with individual peculiarities of attention in children,” Neurophysiology, 36, No. 4, 276–284 (2004).

    Google Scholar 

  16. N. V. Lutshyuk, E. V. Éismont, and V. B. Pavlenko, “Correlation between the characteristics of evoked EEG potentials recorded in a go/no-go paradigm and indices of attention in children,” Neurophysiology, 37, Nos. 5/6, 396–402 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. M. V. Tsikalova, V. B. Pavlenko, and N. V. Lutshyuk, “Cognitive evoked potentials in 10-to 12-year-old children: correlation with individual peculiarities of attention,” Tavricheskii Med.-Biol. Vestn., 5, No. 4, 89–92 (2002).

    Google Scholar 

  18. T. Egner, T. F. Zech, and J. H. Gruzelier, “The effects of neurofeedback training on the spectral topography of the electroencephalogram,” Clin. Neurophysiol., 115, 2452–2460 (2004).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. L. N. Kuleshova, Attention. A Manual of General, Experimental, and Applied Psychology [in Russian], Piter, Saint Petersburg (2000).

    Google Scholar 

  20. E. I. Rogov, Handbook for the Practical Psychologist in the Education System [in Russian], VLADOS, Moscow (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  21. E. A. Umryukhin, T. D. Dzhebrailova, and I. I. Korobeinikova, “Individual specificities of reaching the results of targeted activity and spectral characteristics of EEG in students within a pre-examination situation, ” Psikhol. Zh., 26, No. 4, 57–65 (2005).

    Google Scholar 

  22. M. G. Knyazeva and V. Yu. Vil’davskii, “Correlations of spectral EEG characteristics and regional blood flow in 9-to 14-year-old children,” Fiziol. Cheloveka, 12, No. 3, 387–394 (1986).

    Google Scholar 

  23. M. Osaka, “Peak alpha frequency of EEG during a mental task: Task difficulty and hemispheric differences,” Psychophysiology, 24, No. 1, 101–105 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  24. B. Saletu and J. Grunberger, “Memory dysfunction and vigilance: neurophysiological and psychopharmacological aspects,” Ann. New York Acad. Sci., 444, No. 1, 406–427 (1985).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. L. A. Coben, W. Danziber, and M. Storandt, “A longitudinal EEG study of mild senile dementia of Alzheimer type: Changes at 1 year and at 2.5 years,” Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol., 61, No. 2, 101–112 (1985).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. M. Tansey and R. Bruner, “EMG and EEG biofeedback training in the treatment of a 10 year old hyperactive boy with a developmental reading disorder,” Biofeedback Self-Regulation, 8, No. 1, 25–37 (1983).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Yu. D. Kropotov, V. A. Grin’-Yatsenko, L. S. Choutko, et al., “Treatment of children with the attention disorders/hyperactivity syndrome using an EEG biological feedback technique,” Ross. Vestn. Perinatol. Pediat., 47, No. 3, 37–40 (2002).

    Google Scholar 

  28. M. B. Sterman, “Physiological origins and functional correlates of EEG rhythmic activities: Implications for self-regulation,” Biofeedback Self-Regulation, 21, No. 1, 3–33 (1996).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. C. M. Gomez, M. Vazquez, and E. Vaquero, “Frequency analysis of the EEG during spatial selective attention,” Int. J. Neurosci., 95, Nos. 1/2, 17–32 (1998).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. O. Jensen, P. Goel, N. Kopell, et al., “On the human sensorimotor-cortex beta rhythm: Sources and modeling,” NeuroImage, 26, No. 2, 347–355 (2005).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. V. S. Rusinov, Functional Meaning of Cerebral Potentials [in Russian], Nauka, Moscow (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  32. V. S. Rusinov, O. M. Grindel’, G. N. Boldyreva, and E. M. Vakar, Biopotentials of the Human Brain: Mathematical Analysis [in Russian], Meditsina. Moscow (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  33. V. I. Gusel’nikov, Electrophysiology of the Brain [in Russian], Vysshaya Shkola, Moscow (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  34. M. I. Posner and S. E. Peterson, “The attention systems of the human brain,” Annu. Rev. Neurosci., 13, No. 3, 25–42 (1990).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vernadskii Tavricheskii National University, Simferopol’ Crimean Autonomic Republic, Ukraine

    N. V. Lutsyuk, E. V. Éismont & V. B. Pavlenko

Authors
  1. N. V. Lutsyuk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. V. Éismont
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. V. B. Pavlenko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to N. V. Lutsyuk, E. V. Éismont or V. B. Pavlenko.

Additional information

Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 38, No. 3, pp. 248–256, May–June, 2006.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lutsyuk, N.V., Éismont, E.V. & Pavlenko, V.B. Correlation of the characteristics of EEG potentials with the indices of attention in 12-to 13-year-old children. Neurophysiology 38, 209–216 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11062-006-0048-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11062-006-0048-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation